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BGonline.org Forums
Daily Quiz 4/25
Posted By: Stein Kulseth In Response To: Daily Quiz 4/25 (Stick)
Date: Tuesday, 26 April 2011, at 1:55 p.m.
- 1: 8/6(2) 9/5
- 8/6(2) is not automatic, but 6s do not play that awkwardly on the other side, given that White can choose which point to break, and at least only give one blot only. Also, in order to stay on the 8pt it is difficult to keep Blue's lone checker back to guard the low points, so there are concessions to be made. On making the 6pt Blue also makes jumping with 6s more dangerous as the remaining checker - and the runner - now faces a 5 pt board if hit. So 8/6(2) it is, paying off to boxes. Then for the remainder, I like Blue to keep the back man guarding the low points, and the 5 point that is a safeguard as well as a stopper for the stacked buidlers on 6. So 8/6(2) 9/5
- 2:8/4 8/2
- Blue is not completely out of time; the race lead isn't so big that Blue has lock if he gets away with 16/6; even with the blots, White's 4pt board is mighty strong; among White's hitting 4s after 16/6 41,42,43,44 make a fifth point; White is rather stripped and after 8/4 8/2 White is quite likely to be the first one having to make some concession. All of these point to paying later, and do convince me.
- 3: 20/8 13/7(2)
- Boxes puts Blue well up in the race, and 20/8 13/7 seems automatic, with either 24/18 or 13/7 for the last 6. The 6 rolls that miss after 24/18 are of course very valuable, but the others bring in new builders with a hit, which is not so good - in addition to the 7 pips lost which is not that serious but still worth something.
With White having not actually made any points yet, I think Blue has time to leave the last man out of harms way for now, and hope to extricate him later. White's having advanced his anchor also means that Blue will always have a way to play any awkward rolls.
- 4: b/17*(2)
- If Blue makes a point the race is even, and Blue's structure is at best marginally better due to the advanced anchor, but otherwise still quite stacked and disjointed. The hit seems indicated, and then there is a last 4 to play: 21/17 makes a point, but one of dubious value - 17/13 runs one but the other one may be a liability - 13/9 tries for offensive progress, but leaves three blots, and White has many shots from the bar. Making the 17-point is my choice, the game has a long way to go, and making the point leaves Blue with a solid position where he has no immediate commitments, and he is more free to choose how to play his rolls. Also, the point does have some value, working as an bridge for any checkers hit, and making it difficult for White to unstack his loaded mid point.
- 5: Double/take
- PRaT analysis: Blue has the better position with the anchor and the 4pt being better than the 3pt, but only slightly as he is otherwise very inflexible with all spares stacked on 6. Blue leads in the race, but not by a large amout. Blue threatens to hit a blot, but White has an anchor and an otherwise sound position, so it is not a blow-away threat. Thus even if Blue has all three PRaT indicators, they are not very strong, and White's position feels like a take - actually enough so that I do not Woolsey cube this automatically. Enter Robertie's rule, give Blue a good roll, not his best, and White a bad roll not his worst. Blue: 43: (21/17*/14), hitting, but not being able to diversify his stack, White: 14 (b/24 6/2), not dancing, but having to add another board blot not to jar another loose. Now is this a clear drop? Clear enough for me with a quite dicey position and 3 on ace.
So double/take...
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